Future of Android Auto Discussed, Could be Based Heavily Around Android “M” Release

According to the latest report from Reuters, Google is taking car infotainment systems very seriously. Reported to be introduced alongside Android M sometime in “a year or so,” Google hopes to take whatever infotainment system you currently use in your car, and replace it with Android.

This would mean, from what Reuters claims, is that the Android Auto system would not work alongside a car’s built in system, but bypass it completely, taking over all key features, such as navigation.

To lend credit to this report, it is true that many cars are now coming equipped with cellular connectivity, allowing owners to place any system they would want inside the dash. However, if Google intends on makers such as BMW and Ford to replace their proprietary systems with Android, it is hard to say exactly how much adoption Mountain View can expect to see. With that said, at the introduction of Android Auto, it was made very clear that a few manufacturers, like Audi, were partnered with Google to make the system top notch.

As an overview, Android Auto is essentially a custom version of Android, featuring many of the features you would find on your smartphone. There is Google Maps and Google Music, with Google already releasing select APIs to developers to begin app production for when the system officially rolls out. However, at this time, Android Auto requires a smartphone be attached to do most of the task management. With whatever Google is working on, according to Reuters, it would not need a smartphone attached to get work done. It would be a full Android system, in your dash.

I know I may have friends who would joke that you would not want Android in your dash, as hysterical “Car has stopped working, would you like to force close?” jokes would frequent our circle, but Android Auto and relationships between Google and car makers is quite exciting.

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Just got a 2015 Sonata. Really hoping it gets to that, in a nice streamlined way. Hyundai’s built in system surprisingly isn’t all that bad.

yummy

Not no never nyetski

Finire

Already have an Android tablet mounted in my car for music streaming, navigation, audible, and playing movies for the passengers on long rides..

Can’t wait for this, and from what I’m reading, this is going to be aftermarket from Google, meaning we can control it ourselves… Awesome!

Ilya Kolodiychik

I can’t wait until I’m running Android in the car.

I freakin love Android, Google, and anything having to do with either. Even if Google is datamining in Europe, illegally. No company these days is without it’s ‘sins’ lol.

Ilya Kolodiychik

That being said, my 2011 Infiniti M56 (and the 2007 M35 I had before it) aren’t bad in the infotainment department. It works. But I do miss my old Kenwood DNX8120 I had in my 1999 Maxima…that was a beautiful system.

Ilya Kolodiychik

Unfortunately, for people like me with cars that have integrated infotainment/climate control systems, the only way to get this would be get a new car that is “Google” powered. I have no way to replace the system in my car without some SERIOUS engineering/electrical/Audio and Video work. Way over my head.

Dane Carpenter

I don’t think this is a good idea in my opinion. I think the the use of Miracast or MirrorLink is a better option. I think it would be easier just to mirror what is already on your phone versus having to have a completely separate device. That way you aren’t having to maintain yet another infotainment device that will be outdated when it roles off the lot. Especially, with the way computer technology evolves so quickly. And you won’t have to have to maintain another wireless connection just for your car.

I think about how clunky and slow my in-dash navigation is on my 2010 Subaru. It’s bad enough I have to replace my phone ever couple years. I don’t want to have to replace a $30,000 car every couple years as well. Plus, the manufacturers are going to somehow find a way to make this a $1500 upgrade.

MicroNix

Finally, someone else that gets it!

Ricolas P

Absolutely. Miracast is the answer, and it is already a standard that exists that is built into android and MSFT (not sure about Apple?) that has the capability to handle everything from a fidelity standpoint.

Personally not in the market for android auto if it is a separate thing. Definitely waiting for an awesome miracast option

Yes please giving my blessing on this one, Auto proprietary systems are all terrible, they have no concept of usability for the user, most feel like they were patched together and thrown in to increase the sale price an additional $3K. I still end up using my device over the proprietary systems in all the vehicles 1. the overall usability navigation is horrid 2. the voice system is flaky at best with direction searches or points of interest.

This is where tech needs to go; I am way more excited for this than the smart watch/ glass–as Ron said, tech needs to solve an actual problem. Outdated car navigation systems and clunky integration of music streaming is a “problem” that needs to be solved much more than notifications on my wrist.

Greg Buxton

Count me in the “already done it” camp. =)

jbegs

So we would need to pick a car based on our OS preference? If phones start to slow down after 18 months or so, what will happen to this in-dash system? I would prefer to plug my phone in so no matter what car I was in Android Auto worked.

trwb

Great now Google will be listening to us in our cars too.

jonzey231

Hell yeah!!!

RicoDelicioso

Ditto with ↑ this guy!

Cesar

“Would you let Google power your infotainment system?”

Yes! Yes! A thousand times, YES!

Daniel Walsh

Awesome.

Cory Wilson

I’m ready to see a jvc or pioneer head unit on Crutchfield. Really hope this goes beyond the factory systems market because I don’t see myself replacing my 10 year old beat-up cavalier any time soon

Matthew Dickinson

Exactly. Having an aftermarket unit available would open up a lot of options for vehicles already on the road, or an upgrade later if you bought a base model car without the bells and whistles. My Escape has a double din slot that I would love to drop an Android Auto based unit into.

RicoDelicioso

Ditto with ↑ these guys!

Skittlez

i’m actually waiting for this, so i can buy my Subaru already. I thought it would be out by the end of the year or beginning of next year

CivilDroid

I’m just interested to see what will be available for retro fitting/aftermarket options. I would like to think that will be the majority of the interest from buyers. If your in the market for a new car…great. But it’s not like buying a new phone every year. “Crap! I just bought the Audi Android Auto Maxx…and now the Maxx Plus is out!!! EFFF!”

cbstryker

“I know I may have friends who would joke that you would not want Android in your dash, as hysterical ‘Car has stopped working, would you like to force close?’”

I’d rather have Android any day over a Microsoft system in a Ford.

John Davids

Honestly, I think car makers will embrace this hardcore. Go shopping for cars with in-dash screens and pay particularly close attention to the layout, capabilities, and overall GUI of each system. Very rapidly you will realize that the VAST majority are afterthoughts and suck. A lot. Rather than having to invest $$$ into R&D to make a slick GUI to try to stand out amongst dozens of competitors; these car companies can instead just adopt Android Auto…probably for free.

wmsco1

Now I have to buy a new car just to get the update sheeesh this is getting expensive!

jamaall

Instead of “Unfortunately, car has stopped working”, you can stick iOS in your car and it’ll crash and say nothing.

They should go aftermarket first, then start replacing the oem nav systems at the factory.

NeilOMalley

I would love to see Android Auto on aftermarket head units so I get it in a couple of my older vehicles.

yankeesusa

Android auto will be on aftermarket radios. Pioneer already has a radio in the works after signing a contract with google for android auto. some other companies have radios in the works too. I can’t wait.

Ahmed

Already got my nexus 7 2013 in my E39 M5′ . so no, i’m good to go.

Paul Hansen

My only problem with installing a tablet in my dash (believe me I’ve thought about it) is that the panels in the consumer LCDs aren’t built to handle the Chicago winter temperatures. It’d have to be easily removable so that I could pop it out when I leave the car and it’s 10 below and my car is going to be parked outside at work for 8-12 hours.

Ahmed

ah, see i’m in the opposite , i’m in phoenix, where car temps get to 150 in the summer, so i opened a small hole in the ac pipe behind my stock dash , and fabricated a dashkit that’s removable that fits into the stock dash’s brackets…
I take my tablet out about once every 4-5 days, update apps, (still on 4.4.4), also without Viper4Android , the quality of audio would of been crap. With V4A it sounds like how a aftermarket deck would sound with a built in sound processor, also make sure you have a line driver, or pre-amp processor. Do it man Best decision ever, especially with Nokia Here offline maps..

MicroNix

What do you do when you part the vehicle and there’s no AC to cool that battery? Even in standby, the heat can’t be good for the tablet’s battery. Likewise, in Chicago, when parked, unless you are going to take it out every time (somewhat defeating an in-dash system) the cold will tank that battery in a hurry. And with most tablets having a non-replaceable battery, you are talking a cold boot of the tablet every time the key is turned on if the battery is toast.

It was supposed to be in 2015 Audi models, maybe 2016 now since that wasn’t true.

B Brad

“Would you let Google power your infotainment system?”, hell yes. Have you seen what passes for entertainment and navigation systems these days? Walk into a new BMW, Mercedes, Subaru, or Ford dealer and try one out. They end up looking like nav from a decade or so ago. Even Maemo mapper on my old Nokia 770 PDA was better (2005 or so).

Personally I’d rather have android auto, I definitely don’t want to pay $50 a month just for having the privilege of real time traffic/weather data that I’m already paying for on my phone. After all $50 a month is a decent fraction of a car payment.

Good luck getting people to buy a data plan for an Android based infotainment system. I already have a device to facilitate all that activity. Just give me a decent cast of it to a larger screen/buttons wirelessly and don’t make it vendor locked. Maybe someday I will want an iPhone or Windows Phone (its a long stretch but let’s just say for the sake of argument) and I have the same car. I will not be picking out auto manufacturers and models just because they support a $200 phone. No way. Not when droppin that kind of coin for a new vehicle. Make it vendor agnostic or don’t make it at all.

kashtrey

I would hope that Google allowed for a wired tether to phone option, so instead of processing AA on your phone (current) you just plug it into get data but all the processing is local to the car.

I was thinking the same thing…which is one of the reasons I mounted a N7 in my current car. Hopefully that’ll save me from a $40,000-$50,000 impulse buy “just to have the latest and greatest everything” hah.

Jpx

lol I was totally kidding. But I will admit I just bought a car in March and this news is making me wish my car had it. I do have a N7 lying around, but I dont think I need it that bad, my stock display is pretty decent.

Wow…you must have the best stock display ever put in a car that’s not a Tesla. I have yet to see a FHD stock display or anything even close…most look like they could have been put there in the 90’s. And their UI makes my eyes bleed :/ (let alone the fact that you pretty much can’t customize anything at all to your liking)

This is a challenge Google will need to address. To get the adoption they want they are going to HAVE to make something aftermarket. People aren’t going to buy cars just for AndroidAuto. I’m hoping they get it right and I can slide something into my current car. I’m never leaving my Evo X 😉

MicroNix

I still think the car systems need to be a dumb touch screen with a common open interface for mobile devices to be used by it. Kind of what AirDroid does with PCs. I don’t want any particular car to be locked to a specific ecosystem. Period. Neither Apple, Microsoft or Google should have their mitts in the car arrangement other than to all agree on an open standard that ANY device can make use of.

zurginator

Most cars are going to run 3 OS’s.

The OEM interface as a base.
Android Auto when an Android phone is plugged in.
Apple Auto when an iOS device is plugged in.

MicroNix

Do you really think Apple is not going to force auto manufacturers to use its system alone or nothing? I’m seeing “exclusives” here because that is just how Apple rolls. To have their OS on the same device as a competitor’s is not something I see jiving. They are too shifty and self-centered to allow something like that to happen.

“Scion FRS is the best car ever to be conceived. All other manufacturers are just decades behind and can only hope to catch up one of these days. You are straight trippin’ if you think your (insert car model here) is remotely on the level of the FRS. At the end of the day it’s pretty much plain and simple nothing beats Scion period they are automobiles nothing else matters.”

Did I do that right, Note4Loverboi (aka Richard???)

Smartss

Clearly you want some attention since it’s Christmas time I’ll be generous. The Scion FRS is the best car ever to be conceived… It’s so great you don’t even notice that is not an FRS in the photo above but a Tc. Sir/Ma’am I’ll guarantee you that I’m not “trippin” but sitting comfortably in my seat. As for my (insert whatever you think I drive) I assure you that it indeed isn’t up to par with a Scion which seems to be in a bit of a sales slump down from 17K sales per month in 2006 to just 6700 in November 2014. Now if I have offended you and your great and mighty Scion FRS I apologize. You can always claim it’s a Subie.

AMTrombley89

I think you might have taken me a little to seriously, bro. This isn’t actually my opinion, good sir. The quotes was my attempt to satirically sound like Richard, who says crap like that all the time on these comments about phones compared to his “almighty” Note 4. I think the crap he says it as dumb as I made this sound.

It was an attempt at a joke. Sorry if you didn’t catch the reference, or if it was too obscure. I don’t LOVE the FRS, and I respect your car. Have a good day, brah

AMTrombley89

TL;DR, I was making fun of Richard

Smartss

Sorry I don’t come here often enough to have picked up on that. Sooooo sorry dude. I’m an auto enthusiast first… Androidphile second.

Having immensely enjoyed Big Hero 6, this may be my new favorite gif. 10 points to Gryffindor.

AMTrombley89

Saw it last night lol. Dat wasabi scream doe… Lulz

Cory Wilson

Lol Richard Yarrell

Smartss

BTW who is Note4Loverboi (aka Richard???)

Dr_Buttballs

He’s a notorious Samsung white knight. AMTrombley89’s comment was a play on one of Richard’s typical comments.

Smartss

Oh, I thought he was calling me a note lover… I do love my N6 though.

Efthimios

To bad its not a real design by Scion, the had to go to Subaru to get a great car on the road.only thing that is from their parent company Toyota is the fuel injection, otherwise you just driving a rebadged Subaru.

I need to get a picture of it in good lighting…that lighting was too dark and makes it look too bright, and the lighting in this picture was way too bright (super sunny) and makes it look dim. But in reality, it looks just right in all lighting.

jimt

That is nice, you don’t even need the phone. What holds it in? Did you glue it to something? Or is it held by the edges somehow?

I’ve got an OBDII to bluetooth adapter connected to it too so that I can bring up geeky stats, dials, logs, etc on the screen.

I’m using Nova Prime (launcher) to hide the applications menu, etc. That also allowed me to use icon packs for nicely matching icons that are the size I want them.

I have Tasker setup so that the tablet wakes up whenever wireless charging is detected and sets the screen time out to 15 minutes. When wireless charging is not detected, it goes back to 15 seconds so that it turns off pretty quickly after I turn the car off.

And, of course, I picked a background that matched my car well IMHO (I also thought about putting just the “Scion” logo to make it look stock).

Because the tablet is in its case, you can lift it up like it’s on a hinge to get to the radio and sound controls (I know, it sounds like it would be floppy like that, but the way that it wedges in makes it really rigid…too hard to explain, but I’m too OCD to have something that’s loose or shifts around). And I can still use the volume controls on the steering wheel.

So basically, all that was built for the price of the tablet and about $80 ($7 for the case, $20 for the wireless charger, and $50 for the bluetooth to AUX adapter)…and an afternoon. The only modification I had to make to the car was that I took the door off that normally covers the radio, and made two small holes in the plastic above the radio to fasten down the N7 case cover. I didn’t make any modifications to the tablet at all and I can even remove it from its case if I want to take it from the car 🙂

Now that I have this all setup, there’s really nothing I can think to look forward to with Android Auto that I don’t already have 🙂

I’m a bit of an audiophile myself, but I think BT 4.0 (with a little eq help) gets me sound that’s about as good as the stock Scion amp and speakers can produce anyway 🙂 Also, a 3.5mm cord wouldn’t allow the N7 to sit so snugly like it does now.

Ahmed

you using Viper 4 android? line drivers? I am literally replicating the sound that a top lead after market manufacturer for decks would sound like.
I am connecting it to Jl 10001 and W7 sub and jl 4004 amp

Great writeup. I have a similar, albeit more temporary setup with my N7 (2013) in my BMW (1997). I only use the Tablet mounted on an eBay vent mount (very stable) for long road trips, but the blutooth goodies are used daily and are as follows:

I also have the OBDII-Bluetooth adapter with the Torque app for all the geeky car goodies, as well as a bluetooth adapter for audio. I went with this http://goo.gl/gOscQg Miccus adapter after reading reviews. It lives in my glove box and receives a 3.5mm cable from a cassette adapter I’ve routed from the stock head unit. I also have an auxiliary 12v charging port in my glove box which feeds the mini USB adapter power. The cool thing about this adapter is that it automatically pairs once it’s fed power from engine start, so this is what I have going on with either my N7 or my G3 at any given time:

1) Engine Start

2) Miccus Adapter senses power input from 12v charger

3) Pairs with tablet or phone (whichever is present and has bluetooth on)

4) Once paired, This app http://goo.gl/XXuPDl “Bluetooth Connect & Play” (Basically a one-function version of Tasker) launches Google Play Music and plays the last song or station I had going.

So basically, with the phone still in my pocket, All i have to do is start the car and I get limitless commercial free music (Thanks, $7.99/mo early adoption rate) and everything still looks stock on the outside. I even have my steering wheel volume controls like you. When I want to use the tablet, i just give it a connection from my rooted G3 via hotspot (Thanks, Grandfathered Unlimited VZW) It still amazes me every day that i was able to get wireless music on a 17 year old car with just a cassette player and some modest speaker/amp upgrades.

My charging isn’t as seamless as yours since I didn’t require a more permanent mount, but I get around it with this http://goo.gl/AaCDgR Griffin dual usb adapter for my cigarette lighter. I can charge both the phone and the tablet at the same time for road trips, or my phone and a passenger’s phone on a daily basis. Your slim wireless charging plate is nifty though. I might find a way to incorporate that into my setup.

TylerChappell

That’s an awesome setup you got running, thanks for sharing the deetz.

PoisonApple31

Looks good – now replace the rest of the console with something as appealing as the Nexus 7.

N7FTW

This is the most useful application of the nexus 7 I’ve seen!

Futbolrunner

Got mine too 🙂

El Big CHRIS

Nice. When I had my tC I always wanted to do this, but just didn’t know how